Foreign Languagehttp://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/7421/all
eniTranslate Voice 2 Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/itranslate_voice_2_review
<!--paging_filter--><p>Sonico’s <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/itranslate-translator-dictionary/id288113403?mt=8" target="_blank">iTranslate</a> is great for quickly converting text to other languages while on the go, but it’s less handy for actually holding a conversation with someone speaking a different tongue. Thankfully, the developer has just refreshed its companion app, which harnesses the power of voice as well. The all-new iTranslate Voice 2 has been updated stem to stern for iOS 7, headlined by universal support that allows it to run natively on the iPad for the first time. Unlike other apps touting so-called iOS 7-powered improvements, this major update actually delivers them on at least two fronts.</p><p>First is support for offline voices, which are part of numerous accessibility enhancements Apple delivered with iOS 7. This option allows iTranslate Voice 2 to produce translation results faster for 26 out of the 42 languages supported by the app, which made a noticeable difference in our tests. However, it’s important to note that you’ll still need an active Wi-Fi or cellular connection for the actual translation process.</p><p><img src="/files/u338318/2014/02/itranslate_voice_2.png" width="620" height="548" /></p><p>iTranslate Voice 2’s AirTranslate feature is also improved, taking advantage of the same peer-to-peer iOS 7 technology utilized for AirDrop — which uses Bluetooth and an ad-hoc Wi-Fi network to connect a pair of iOS devices, making the process of translation more conversational as a result.</p><p>Using iTranslate Voice couldn’t be easier: Select the desired languages, tap the accompanying flag icon, speak into the microphone, and within seconds the translated text is shown on-screen as well as spoken aloud. Tests with native Russian and Ukrainian speakers were surprisingly fast with a high degree of accuracy, but text can be edited should the voice recognition not be quite perfect.</p><p>Tapping a specific translation lets you repeat audio playback, copy and paste, or share via email, SMS, Twitter, or Facebook, but sadly there’s no way to archive entire conversations for later reference. Last but not least, version 2 isn’t an update to the original – the app requires an entirely new purchase for all users.</p><p><strong>The bottom line.</strong> iTranslate Voice 2 manages to leverage iOS 7 in very meaningful ways, and the addition of native iPad support means everyone can get in on the conversation.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/itranslate-voice-2/id806187209?mt=8" target="_blank">iTranslate Voice 2.1.1</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Sonico GmbH </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://itranslatevoice.com" target="_blank">itranslatevoice.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
$0.99 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad running iOS 7.0 or later</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Lightning-fast translation for 42 languages. Native iPad support. AirTranslate uses iOS 7 for peer-to-peer communication between devices.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>No way to export entire conversations. Data connection required for actual translation. Requires new app purchase, even for owners of first version.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/itranslate_voice_2_review#commentsGalleryReviewsapp store reviewsAppLifeAppsForeign LanguagefrenchgermaniPod and iPhoneitalianiTranslate VoiceJapaneseKoreanLanguageMandarinRussianSoftwareSonicospanishTranslateTranslationiPadiPhoneiPodThu, 20 Feb 2014 18:00:22 +0000J.R. Bookwalter19373 at http://www.maclife.comRosetta Stone Arcade Academy Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/rosetta_stone_arcade_academy_review
<!--paging_filter--><p>Rosetta Stone’s products immerse you in the language you are learning with its innovative teaching method and lessons that force you to think like a native speaker. Rosetta Stone Arcade Academy, a free-to-play iOS educational game, attempts to build on the foundation of the computer-based language courses by introducing some gaming components as it teaches you the basics of Spanish. The result, unfortunately, is a frustrating experience that often distracts more than it enlivens the process of learning.<br /><br />Arcade Academy consists of playing through various mini-games that introduce a word or a phrase, and then task you with either finding its definition or completing sentences. Once you clear a game, you can check your answer to find out what the word or phrase means before moving on to the next one. This immersive method doesn’t hold your hand, so you are bound to make mistakes the first few times. It’s a typical Rosetta Stone experience that may not work for everyone, but what makes it even harder to swallow is the lack of a structured lesson plan. The game tracks which material you’re mastering, but doesn’t let you practice on specific words or phrases. Learning simply consists of playing random mini-game after mini-game and memorizing the words you see.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.maclife.com/files/u325188/2013/10/screen_45.png" width="620" height="349" /></p><p>This wouldn’t be so bad if Arcade Academy stuck to just teaching you the language rather than incorporating poorly designed mini-games you must clear to continue. The Story and Infinite modes both challenge you to survive for as long as you can without making too many mistakes, but the problems stem from the games themselves rather than the material. One mini-game, for example, requires you to guide someone through an electric maze to reach the correct word. Even if you know the answer, its controls are so wonky and there are often so many obstacles to overcome that you might think the game is setting you up for failure. Learning a new language is hard enough as it is without all of the extra interference.<br /><strong><br />The bottom line</strong>. Arcade Academy admirably attempts to make learning Spanish feel like a game, but its poor gaming mechanics fail to make it fun or educational.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rosetta-stone-arcade-academy/id705416234" target="_blank">Rosetta Stone Arcade Academy 1.0.1</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Rosetta Stone </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.rosettastone.com" target="_blank">http://www.rosettastone.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Free </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 6.0 or later</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Colorful visuals and cut-scenes.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Frustrating mini-games mar the learning experience. Motion controls aren’t always responsive. No real sense of progress.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/rosetta_stone_arcade_academy_review#commentsGalleryReviewsapp store reviewsAppLifeArcade AcademyEducationedutainmentForeign LanguageGamesgamesiPadiPhone and iPod AppsLanguagereviewsRosetta StoneSoftwaresoftwarespanishiPadiPhoneiPodMon, 28 Oct 2013 17:10:40 +0000Giancarlo Saldana18448 at http://www.maclife.comFarsi-Speaking U.S. Resident Denied iPad Sale by Apple Store Employeehttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/farsispeaking_us_resident_denied_ipad_sale_apple_store_employee
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/apple_store_alpharetta_ga_200px.png" alt="Apple Store - Alpharetta, GA" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />An Apple retail store in Georgia is making news this week after one of its employees refused to sell an iPad to a 19-year-old U.S. resident, presumably because she is from Iran, a country the employee claims has "bad relations" with the West.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/customer-apple-store-denied-me-ipad-speaking-farsi/nPY4p/" target="_blank">WSBTV.com is reporting</a> that an Alpharetta, Georgia woman was denied the sale of an iPad after being overheard speaking Farsi with her friend. Although 19-year-old Sahar Sabet is a U.S. citizen, she and a friend interested in buying an iPhone both hail from Iran -- which at least one Apple Store employee believes is reason enough not to sell the device.<br /><br />The incident happened last Thursday at <a href="http://www.apple.com/retail/northpoint/" target="_blank">the Apple retail store inside North Pointe Mall</a>, where Sabet wanted to buy an iPad for her cousin who still lives in Iran. An employee at the store overheard Sabet and her friend speaking Farsi and inquired about what language they spoke.<br /><br />"When we said 'Farsi, I'm from Iran,' he said, 'I just can't sell this to you. Our countries have bad relations,'" Sabet claims.<br /><br />Sabet isn't alone -- Zack Jafarzadeh had a similar experience at the nearby Perimeter Mall after attempting to purchase an iPhone for an Iranian friend living and studying in the Atlanta area on a legal visa.<br /><br />"We never talked about him going back to Iran or anything like that. He was just speaking full-fledged Farsi and the representative came back and denied our sale," Jafarzadeh explained.<br /><br />While Sabet and Jafarzadeh are claiming racial profiling, an Apple Store manager points to the company's corporate policy, which forbids "the exportation, sale or supply from the U.S. to Iran of any Apple goods" -- at least without authorization of the U.S. government first.<br /><br />This week, The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called on Apple to change this policy after hearing about the news report. But Iranians here in the U.S. have a better idea: Silence is golden when dealing with Apple.<br /><br />"I would say if you're trying to buy an iPhone, don't tell them anything about Iran. That would be your best bet," concluded Jafarzadeh.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/farsispeaking_us_resident_denied_ipad_sale_apple_store_employee#commentsNewsApple Retail StoresApple StoreemployeesFarsiForeign LanguageGeorgiaincidentIranPoliciesresidentsiPadiPhoneWed, 20 Jun 2012 12:44:07 +0000J.R. Bookwalter14372 at http://www.maclife.comWWDC 2012: Apple Previews iOS 6, Improved Siri Coming to New iPadhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/wwdc_2012_apple_previews_ios_6_improved_siri_coming_new_ipad
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/ios_6_logo_temp_200px.png" alt="iOS 6 logo" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />Although it’s little surprise after seeing banners go up Friday afternoon, iOS 6 is indeed real and Apple wasted no time jumping right in to show developers what they’ll be working with in the months ahead.<br /><br />Following the introduction of new MacBooks and a more detailed preview of OS X Mountain Lion, Apple’s senior vice president of iOS software Scott Forstall took the stage to introduce a preview of <a href="http://www.apple.com/ios/ios6/" target="_blank">iOS 6</a>, the company’s latest edition of the mobile operating system powering the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.<br /><br />Forstall kicked off the preview by announcing that 365 million iOS devices have now been sold through March 30, with the vast majority running the latest iOS 5. 81 percent of iOS apps are now using Notification Center and Apple is currently pushing 1.5 trillion push notifications through its servers. iMessage also appears to be a hit, with more than 140 million users and 150 billion messages sent to date, at a rate of a billion per day.<br /><br />With the stats behind him, Forstall moved on to introducing iOS 6, which will introduce more than 200 new features, including some significant improvements to Siri.<br /><br />Among Siri’s new superpowers is the ability to tap into sports data; the virtual assistant is also now capable of making dinner reservations, having partnered with OpenTable. Integration with Rotten Tomatoes is also on deck, as Siri can now receive inquiries about which movies are playing where and even offer up a trailer for playback. Forstall also demonstrated asking Siri about specific directors or actors.<br /><br />Presumably part of a new Siri API, the virtual assistant is now capable of launching apps, and a new “Eyes Free” mode will allow users to send a tweet just by talking into your phone. Automobile support for Siri is being added from key automakers such as BMW, GM, Mercedes-Benz and others, with Ford being a notable exception since they have already thrown their hat into the Microsoft SYNC ring.<br /><br />Siri is also better at international relations, adding support for Italian, Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese and even Canadian -- presumably both English and French. Localized search rounds out the iOS 6 edition of Siri, which will be available on both the iPhone 4S and finally, the new iPad.<br /><br />Facebook is the next iOS 6 feature to be introduced, which integrates into the operating system much in the same way that Twitter did with iOS 5. A Facebook API in iOS 6 allows developers to integrate the feature into their own apps, but it’s also tightly woven into the App Store for liking apps and seeing which apps your friends are using as well. Facebook events now appear in calendars and contacts, including birthdays -- and the same functionality will also appear on OS X Mountain Lion as well.<br /><br />iOS 6 also includes some welcome updates to the Phone app, offering the ability to reply to an incoming call with a message such as “I’ll call you later” or to remind you later to return the call. A new “Do Not Disturb” mode for the iPhone allows users to set a system-wide period of time to make your device unavailable to incoming calls or messages.<br /><br />FaceTime will finally work over a cellular connection starting with iOS 6, a much-requested feature users can now scratch off their wish list. Apple is also taking steps to unify your phone number and Apple ID to allow users to answer calls anywhere they are -- even on an iPad or Mac.<br /><br />Mobile Safari also goes under the knife in iOS 6 with iCloud tabs, an offline Reading List feature and the ability to upload photos to websites such as Shutterfly.com. Smart app banners now allow users to quickly jump into the App Store to download an app, when available.<br /><br />iCloud’s Photo Stream has now learned to share with iOS 6 -- simply choose a photo, choose the friends you want to share the image with and the photos will appear in an album online.<br /><br />Mail adds a new VIP feature in iOS 6, which allows users to mark the contacts whose emails are most important, which can be sorted into a separate VIP folder. Photos or videos can now be inserted right from the compose window, and users can finally pull to refresh messages, a feature developers greeted with applause.<br /><br />Be sure to check out our coverage of additional iOS 6 features such as the new Maps app and Passbook! A beta of iOS 6 will be available to developers later today, which sadly leaves original iPad and iPod touch second and third-gen owners left behind.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/wwdc_2012_apple_previews_ios_6_improved_siri_coming_new_ipad#commentsNewsFacebookForeign LanguageiOS 6iOS developersnew ipadOpenTableRotten TomatoesSiriSportsWWDC 2012iPadiPhoneiPodMon, 11 Jun 2012 18:12:36 +0000J.R. Bookwalter14291 at http://www.maclife.comRosetta Stone Language Course Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/rosetta_stone_language_course_review
<!--paging_filter--><h3>¡Hablamos Español!</h3> <p>I’ve been planning my dream vacation to South America for a while, complete with Evernote clippings of destinations I’m dying to see and a Gmail filter to keep an eye out for sales on flights. While the trip is still more of a dream than reality, I thought I’d get a head start on it by refreshing my Spanish. With the new updates to the Rosetta Stone language learning suite, I can get back to the basics and brush up on my conjugation without stepping foot in a classroom.<br /> <br /> Rosetta Stone’s approach has evolved with the times. The software now offers live chats with a real language instructor, a free iOS app, interactive games, and a community of others who are also tackling a new tongue. Unfortunately, that evolution doesn’t apply to distribution. You’ll have to install from a physical CD, and sit through a round of web-based updates before you can get started. Worse yet, the software runs on the Adobe AIR platform, but the install process doesn’t do a good job of checking your AIR installation first for compatibility. It took three separate tech support sessions to figure out that our Adobe AIR installation was the culprit in our install problem.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u307916/2012/Online/MacFormatHowTos/rosettascreen.jpg" width="620" height="477" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>The Rosetta Course takes you through four lessons, including pronunciation, grammar, reading and vocabulary.</strong></p> <p>Rosetta starts off by having you memorize frequently used nouns and verbs. It’s very bare-bones language instruction, with Level 1 teaching you just enough to navigate your way through a grocery store. Included with your purchase is a USB headset with microphone, which is frequently used throughout the lessons to practice pronunciation of specific syllables and words every couple of exercises. If you’re a quick learner, or just refreshing your Spanish, the activities can become repetitive. Further on you’ll learn grammar, proper conjugation, and more advanced vocabulary. The course will test you with various activities in between core lessons by having you play matching games, fill in blanks, choose the right conjugation for a photo, and more.&nbsp; Along the way you’ll rack up points, but the only reward for sticking through the entire lesson is that, at the end, you’re allowed to schedule your 50-minute live chat. <br /><br />In addition to the included lesson material, Rosetta offers optional online content to enrich your learning for $25 monthly. The extra features include mini-games that you can play solo or with up to three random users online, and stories that you can peruse or read along with other Rosetta users. You can play the solo games at any time, though activities with others are limited to a 12-hour window, from 8AM to 8PM PST, so if you’re a night owl, or have a day job on the west coast, they’re pretty inconvenient. There’s also an iOS app included with the purchase of the language suite, which is basically a virtual set of flash cards to take with you and test yourself throughout the day. <br /><br />As a package, the whole point of Rosetta Stone is to immerse you entirely in a language so that you can grasp the basics in what is (presumably) a short amount of time. It works as long as you discipline yourself to spend a few hours each day focused on the lesson. <br /><br /><strong>The bottom line. </strong>Rosetta Stone is still one of the best language learning suites out there, but installation troubles and limited online options leave us feeling a bit malo.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Rosetta Stone</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Rosetta Stone </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://rosettastone.com" target="_blank">rosettastone.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Level 1-2 bundle $299; Level 1-3 bundle $399; Level 1-5 bundle $499 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Mac OS 10.4.11 or later, CD-ROM drive, USB port</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Easy to learn exercises, interactive software with accompanying free iOS app.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>No digital download. Uses finicky Adobe AIR architecture.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/rosetta_stone_language_course_review#commentsReviewsAppLifeAppsForeign LanguageLanguageReference and EducationRosettaSoftwareMacThu, 29 Dec 2011 23:00:22 +0000Florence Ion13002 at http://www.maclife.comA Day with the Devs: MindSnackshttp://www.maclife.com/article/features/day_devs_mindsnacks
<!--paging_filter--><h3>How are educational apps created? We head to MindSnacks for a first-hand answer.</h3><p>Our lives have been changed by apps. Whether it’s <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/peggle/id314303518?mt=8">Peggle</a> or a Productivity suite, the way we interact with our phones have been altered forever. But how are these treasures created? We decided to go to MindSnacks, an educational game studio, to hear about the process firsthand. <br /><br />At eight workers, <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mindsnacks-french-language/id409947305?mt=8">MindSnacks</a> is a small app studio—which is not to be confused for an office. “Offices are boring. Printers, scanners, pigeonholes. At studios, things are more fun.” The Creative Director, Pasquale D’Silva relayed.&nbsp; Though MindSnacks enjoys an unquestionably relaxed environment, the team works just as hard as they play.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u307916/2011/8/Start/mind-snacks-italian.jpg" width="200" height="200" /> <img src="/files/u307916/2011/8/Start/mind-snacks-spanish.jpg" width="200" height="200" /></p><p>Currently, MindSnacks has three learning-based apps, that use minigames to teach players French, Italian, with plans for Portuguese and ESL (English as a second language) next. CEO Jesse Pickard doesn’t feel restrained to language apps though.&nbsp; “We think that we can teach anything with MindSnacks.” He says. He and Pasquale excitedly rattle off a list: how to program, how to cook, how to fix your car, how to make really good meat cuts.</p><p>Even in the planning stages of a new app, MindSnacks works collaboratively like this. As a group, everyone from the Creative Director to the Programmers brainstorm dozens of game ideas. In these early phases, they rely heavily on meetings where everyone stays standing, which keeps most meetings mercifully short. Eventually they whittle the enormous list down to around double or triple the games they’ll actually end up producing.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u307916/2011/8/Start/mind-snacks-french.jpg" width="200" height="200" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>This little slug goes from mini to monsieur as you progress through your French.</strong></p><p>With the ideas in tow, they mock up “these really ugly games” and then beta test the games for functionality. The games are designed to be raw, functional but not yet polished, so they outsource much of this work to save the Programmers and Creative Director’s time. After further refining of the game mechanics, the games go to new play testers.<br /><br />MindSnacks uses analytics to determine which games everyone plays and where they get stuck. Most of these rough games won’t make the cut, and the ones that do finally go through advanced prototyping by the staff. Then the games are produced and sold. But that’s not the end of the road for MindSnacks.&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u307916/2011/8/Start/french.jpg" width="320" height="480" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>One of the minigames in MindSnacks French has you answering right answers to plug holes in a fishtank. Hold on little fella!</strong></p><p>Unlike the masses of apps collecting dust on our iPhones, MindSnacks reacts to written reviews and information they receive using data analytics. They constantly improve the games, and are never done really polishing. “We think of MindSnacks as this never-ending service, not a static app.” Says Jesse. “We’re working on a product that constantly improves over time.”<br /><br />Apparently the same goes for their workspace. Everyone’s packing up their bags to find piñatas to hang from the rafters in what’s being called their “first annual piñata hunt.”</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u307916/2011/8/Start/pinata.jpg" width="620" height="300" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>MindSnacks returning from their first annual piñata hunt.</strong></p><p><em>Work as an app developer and want to share your studio’s story? Do something else you think we’d like to know about? Shoot us an email at nic[AT]maclife.com.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/features/day_devs_mindsnacks#commentsA Day with the DevsAppLifeAppsColumnseducational appsForeign LanguageLanguageMindSnacksFeaturesiPadiPhoneThu, 26 May 2011 18:00:21 +0000Nic Vargus11077 at http://www.maclife.comOpera Mini Web Browser Gets a Universal Update, Pals with iPad Nowhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/opera_mini_web_browser_gets_universal_update_pals_ipad_now
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/opera_mini_on_ipad_200px.jpg" alt="Opera Mini on iPad" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />The Mobile Safari web browser Apple includes with every iOS device is quite fine indeed, but some simply want the freedom of choice we enjoy on desktop platforms. Now that the popular Opera Mini browser is making the leap onto the iPad, we have more choices than ever.<br /><br />Opera Software released a major 6.0 update to their <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=ApuPaiKIpxg&amp;offerid=146261&amp;type=3&amp;subid=0&amp;tmpid=1826&amp;RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fus%252Fapp%252Fopera-mini-web-browser%252Fid363729560%253Fmt%253D8%2526uo%253D4%2526partnerId%253D30" target="_blank">Opera Mini web browser</a> on Tuesday with a redesigned, universal app that finally brings some love to the bigger screen of the iPad as well as Retina Display support for the iPhone 4.<br /><br />“Enjoy the fresh new look of Opera Mini 6 without compromise,” the Opera Mini release notes for version 6.0 read. “Get all the speed benefits and data savings of Opera Mini, now optimized for all iOS devices.”<br /><br />Opera Mini 6.0 features an updated design with a fresh new look and feel as well as super smooth pinch-to-zoom and panning. In addition to its new support for the iPhone 4 Retina Display as well as universal support for the iPad and iPad 2, the new version allows for direct sharing to Facebook, Twitter and My Opera.<br /><br />International font support is also now greatly improved for Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese and other non-Latin languages (Opera supports a laundry list of languages from all over the world). Finally, users have the ability to open a new page in a background tab as well.<br /><br /><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=ApuPaiKIpxg&amp;offerid=146261&amp;type=3&amp;subid=0&amp;tmpid=1826&amp;RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fus%252Fapp%252Fopera-mini-web-browser%252Fid363729560%253Fmt%253D8%2526uo%253D4%2526partnerId%253D30" target="_blank">Opera Mini 6.0</a> is available now from the App Store; the free app is a 3.4MB download compatible with all iOS devices running iOS 3.0 or later.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/opera_mini_web_browser_gets_universal_update_pals_ipad_now#commentsNewsAppLifeAppsForeign Languagefree appsGreat UpdatesiOSiPadiphone 4Opera miniretina displayUniversal Appsweb browsersiPadiPhoneiPodTue, 24 May 2011 13:25:09 +0000J.R. Bookwalter11076 at http://www.maclife.comGoogle Translate Comes To The App Storehttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/google_translate_comes_app_store
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220907/google-translate.jpg" alt="google-translate" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />As the global world in which we live in continues to expand, there can be an increasing need to learn languages beyond our own.&nbsp; Certainly the iPhone continually transforms further into a globally used device, and it appears that Google recognized this further by releasing their Translate app into the App Store.&nbsp; <br /><br /><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-translate/id414706506?mt=8" target="_blank">The free app</a> comes packed with plenty of goodies.&nbsp; First, the app gives you the option to be able to speak into it in 15 languages to be able to translate words and phrases into one of 50 languages.<br /><br />Next, you can also listen to translations read aloud in 23 languages.&nbsp; You can also view dictionary results for individual words.&nbsp; You can even access a history of translations offline.<br /><br />Finally there's a full-screen mode that can assist in magnifying the translation for easier reading.&nbsp; The app is globally available for free, for the iPhone and iPod touch that are running iOS 3 or higher.<br /><br />So should you find yourself traveling abroad in the near future, or perhaps a student in a foreign language class and are in need of a learning supplement, Google's latest app offering is worth a look!<br /><br /><em>via <a href="http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19512_7-20031037-233.html">CNET</a></em><br /><br /><em>Follow this article's author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/mtilmann">Matthew Tilmann on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/google_translate_comes_app_store#commentsNewsApp StoreAppsForeign LanguageGoogleTranslateWed, 09 Feb 2011 03:07:58 +0000Matthew Tilmann9858 at http://www.maclife.com